RAMP will be available to counties that are unable to provide the 20 percent matching funds required to participate in the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program.

The governor established ATRIP to help local areas access funding for road and bridge improvements, according to the news release.

Under RAMP, counties and cities that are unable to meet the 20 percent local funding match required to leverage federal ATRIP funds can receive up to $1 million in state funds to match an additional $4 million in federal funds.

The bill the governor signed today will authorize the Alabama Highway Finance Corporation to borrow up to $25 million by selling bonds to provide the money for RAMP.

“ATRIP is improving public safety by replacing old bridges and repairing and widening outdated roads,” Bentley said in the news release. “Better roads and bridges help a community attract new jobs."

Since Bentley unveiled his ATRIP initiative, 439 road and bridge projects have been announced, according to the news release. Sixty-one of Alabama’s 67 counties have received ATRIP funding for road and bridge projects.

The six counties that have not received ATRIP projects so far are Fayette, Hale, Lawrence, Marengo, Wilcox and Winston. Other counties that have received limited ATRIP funding and are also eligible for RAMP assistance are Barbour, Bibb, Bullock, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Lowndes, Marion, Perry, Pickens and Randolph. In all, 22 counties are eligible to participate in RAMP based on current local funding needs.

“Thanks to this legislation, those counties now have the resources available to participate in ATRIP and receive much-needed improvements," the governor said in the news release.